SS/FIXED folder??

hi guys,
I'm look for a folder which I can zip around fast and is light for bring up public transport. Looking at singlespeed and ability to convert to fixed... Dahon mu uno is 1 im aware of.. any others you may know?? Seems like few cater for such niche requirements?

Neoterryjoe--You are in the same place I was several months ago. AND with the exact same Bike--a Mu Uno.

Here's a few threads on my BF Responses. Poster Bruce Metras left a very informative post (and link also) to exactly what you are contemplating doing to yours and what I may do to my(mu uno) bike. So far, due to my living in Miami, Florida and the fact we have flat as a pancake terrain for 99.9% of my riding, I have not converted as of the present. As you will see, he used a Rare IGH 2 speed to solve his problem. I still plan on using an IGH(internal hub) on my Mu Uno. I have not been able to find the same unit Bruce was able to find as they are not manufactured any longer and are much sought after. The Mu Uno, due its lightweight and ease of rapid folding, has worked out great for transporting on multi modes of Public Transportation(bus, metro trains ect). Good Luck

Neoterryjoe--this post was a copy I made on another recent but current thread here on BF in the folder forum :

My Experience is limited to two dahons in the past couple years; my 1st Dahon was a Boardwalk(high tensile steel) at 30.5 lb and my 2nd is a Dahon Mu Uno(Alum, approx 22 lb). Due to the fact that I may, on one day, load and unload, Fold and unfold my bike and wheel it thru the metro stations up to the platforms(100-200 yards in some situations ) while transporting it up & down the escalators in our Metro Train Stations 3-4 times from the time I leave home until the time I arrive home, weight, even 8.5 lbs , is a huge factor for me(and my back). My Mu Uno is a Dream(weightwise) in comparison to my old Steel Boardwalk SS . Not to forget, our Bike Racks on our City Buses are a few feet off the ground and performing this loading & Unloading & stretching drill 2-4 times a day gets old so a bike weighing 8.5 pounds lighter is a huge comfort factor. I loved the ride quality of my old steel boardwalk but the comfort factor of loading & unloading & rolling the folded Mu Uno works better for me. And once I arrive on Public transportation, the Bike ride distances are usually under 3 miles. *******I wanted to add, when I use the Fold Down Racks on our city buses, I don't trust the Tension of the Spring loaded arm that fits over the front tire to maintain your bike securely in the rack. I use my own Bungy Cord wrapped around the frame by the folding mechanism stretched down under and around the Bike carrier and back up to the point I started at, where I hook the bitter end of the Bungy cord. This maintains the bike very securely in the bike carrier so it doesn't allow the Bike to fly out of the carrier when the Bus hits one of our many bumps/RR Crossings, Potholes. I have personally seen Two Bikes fly out and off of the Bus Bike Carriers in the last 2 months here and the Bus Company states, "Not responsible for any damage sustained to your bike in the event this happens". You are on your own so I prevent this possibility with the use of a simple well applied bungy cord. I wrap an old sock around the bike area over where the Bungy is appled applied to prevent the Bungy from wearing off any paint. Caveat Emptor...

The Xootr Swift has track ends as well as a derailer hanger, so that has been used to convert to fixie by some users. In that respect it is the most versatile bike around. Doesn't fold down compactly but occupies very little floor space when folded, and easily carried, plus very light. And the stiffest folder frame to boot.

Bike Friday makes a fixed gear Tikit and could certainly make a single speed version as well. I've been riding a fixed gear a lot this spring and could definitely see the benefits for a folding bike - no cables to the rear of the bike, lighter weight, simpler and very robust as there is nothing to damage in transit.

My little folder is a single speed (non fixed) and there's basically no maintenance on the rear and no adjusting for 2 seasons so far of daily commuting. I ride a strida to work but a Dahon Uno would feel more like a normal bike for you and the clean no cable mess is a definite plus from all those other geared models if you are constantly folding it on and off. With the Uno seems like you can replace the cog in the back with a fixed gear cog.

So far I've found my bike worked great for rush hour traffic on the subway in the big cities since it actually has a very small footprint when you are standing with it and there's no grease on the chain to peeve anyone off. Plus the 5 second folding/unfolding time makes it even sweeter.

thanks for all your replies, appreciate it(esp miamimike)!! I guess the issue now is of budget, even the Mu uno currently may be out of reach, not to speak of the Tikit! strida is nice for its kevlar belt, but i wish to have a full size bike handling and fixed conversion capability.

i used to own a Pacific carryme SS;great bike, but the wheels are too small for comfort sometimes for even small kerbs where I live(in Singapore). I've a brompton-look-a-like flamingo which is a workhorse, I just need a lighter(and fun!) machine to complement it for fast zip-around in the city.

Mu uno is great for its weight, paint job( miamimike, the 2 speed is great!!!). I'm also looking at the boardwalk for conversion. Here, its offered as D7 only, a 7 speed deraileur-based-(no horizontal dropout x.x ) unlike the S1, hence I need to find out also if the dahon specific deraileur hangar(the threading?) can be used with common tensioners from shimano or surly..

Neoterryjoe--look for a used Mu Uno as they turn up from time to time on CL. On a current Thread here titled something like "Best of Craigslist", look for my post on the last page from the Miami CL, as a guy had a Mu Uno for sale. If it hasn't sold recently, he may be ready to negotiate his price.

Neoterryjoe--look for a used Mu Uno as they turn up from time to time on CL. On a current Thread here titled something like "Best of Craigslist", look for my post on the last page from the Miami CL, as a guy had a Mu Uno for sale. If it hasn't sold recently, he may be ready to negotiate his price.

Looks like one in Baltimore .. http://baltimore.craigslist.org/bik/1711835306.html ... but at $525 asking price, I'd rather pay a few bucks more and go new and get the lifetime frame warranty.. there was one here in the SF Bay area .. $350 I think, but it's gone now..

Looks like one in Baltimore .. http://baltimore.craigslist.org/bik/1711835306.html ... but at $525 asking price, I'd rather pay a few bucks more and go new and get the lifetime frame warranty.. there was one here in the SF Bay area .. $350 I think, but it's gone now..

few bucks more and get a new one??? actually try $4 less and get a new one